Build Smarter: Learning from the Housing Bust

"1. Build Smarter

When K. Hovnanian unveiled its high-performance Building America Concept Home earlier this month, it took a bolder step onto a path towards energy-efficient construction that more builders are also now walking.

Building efficient homes makes business sense in what's shaping up to be a tougher regulatory climate. As such, it's not surprising to see more builders promote their "greenness." Lennar and Concordia Homes are among the builders that have made solar panels standard for certain of their communities. Artistic Homes in New Mexico has spent the last decade moving towards its ultimate goal of building net-zero-energy homes exclusively. And then there's Centex and Pulte, whose merger brings together two companies whose homes have garnered recognition for their energy-saving features.

Environmental concern is also manifesting itself in builders' and buyers' increasing interest in transit-oriented development."